Mervyl Melendez Resigns As Alabama State Head Baseball Coach

Melendez posted a five-year record of 158-117 at Alabama State, leading the program to unprecedented accomplishments. Among the first-time achievements, the Hornets posted four straight 30-win seasons, including three straight SWAC Eastern Division Championships. This season, the Hornets were the only Division I baseball team to go undefeated in conference play in setting a school-record 38 victories, winning the program’s first SWAC Championship and earning the first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in the school’s baseball history.

“We thank Coach Melendez for all he has contributed and achieved at Alabama State University,” Hines said. “He made Hornets’ Baseball a household name in Montgomery, expanded the reach of ASU in the region, made the program the best in the SWAC, and put the Hornets’ baseball brand on the map nationally. We wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

The Hornets also became big-game hunters, competing against and defeating some of the best in the country. Alabama State posted wins over nationally-ranked #4 Miami, #17 Cal-State Fullerton, #28 South Alabama. ASU also defeated SEC opponents Auburn and Tennessee during the Melendez era, as well as Troy, UAB and Jacksonville State while competing against then-defending national champion Arizona, Oklahoma.

Alabama State also had nine players earn a chance to play professional baseball, with six players drafted, all in the last three seasons.

“I am extremely thankful for my time at ASU,” Melendez said. “In moving to Montgomery with the goal of making Hornets’ baseball among the best in the country, the support received from the University administration was always first class and unwavering. The encouragement and backing of the alumni, especially of former players, as well as fans, friends and staff of ASU has been outstanding, especially in the way they embraced me and my family.

“It was an honor to lead this program to a championship level, while having the opportunity to mold young men during their college careers. I thank every player that played for our coaching staff at Alabama State. They believed in the vision we had in representing ASU with class and playing the game the right way. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who supported our players and our program. I leave with nothing but cherished memories of my time at Alabama State.”

And it’s very hard for the black players who are good to get recruited at the college level. All you have to do is look at the pictures on the rosters. This is no secret. Now they can’t even play at a HBCU. ASU only has two black players on the roster. So I guess that means even the HBCUs think only white and Hispanic players are good enough.

Mickey

July 5, 2016 at 9:21 AM

Janet Herring

The facts are not many young Black kids play the game of baseball as football and basketball draw their interest. The really good black baseball players get drafted out of high school or recruited to D1 baseball programs.

Melendez has 17 years of head coaching experience. He joins FIU after spending five seasons at Alabama State.

Ribert

October 13, 2016 at 6:20 AM

Mickey,
What your saying is only partly correct
Black baseball players face conflict from day one. Look at the number of black players on the high school & Division 1 level- damn disgrace. If you find one or two that’s it. These coaches don’t reflect the schools population. How many black coaches in HBCU? There is no excuse. Go out and recruit black players. Janet is spot on